Playground chute



Aug. 14, 1928.

R. W. THORNTON PLAYGROUND CHUTE Original Filed July 19,

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Patented Aug. 14, 1928.

UNITED .sTA'rEs 1,680,753 PATENT oF lc I RICHARD W. THORNTON, OF DENVER,COLORADO.

PLAYGROUND onu'm. 1 151; 2T7;

Application filed July 19, 1926, Serial No. 123,393. Renewed June 9,1928.

This invention relates to improvements in childrens all steel chutes forplaygrounds.

It is the almost universal custom to provide schools and public parkswith amusement devices of all kinds, among which the chute or slide isperhaps, the most popular. Heretofore these chutes have almostinvariably been made of wood, such as hard maple. Wood, however, isnotwell suited for this use as such apparatus must be exposed to theweather and even the best hard ma le will soon become weatherbeaten andlia le to splinter.

It is an object of this invention to produce a playground chute or slidethat shall be constructed entirely of steel so that it will be betteradapted to withstand the action of the rain and sun and which willalways be safe. 1

The above, and other objects that may appear as the description proceedsare attained by means of a construction and arrangement of parts whichwill now be described in detail, reference for this purpose being had tor the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated,and in which:

Fig. 1 shows the device in perspective;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1 and shows the manner ofsecuring the steps in place;

Fig. 3 is a section of the chute, taken on line 3-3 Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4, Fig. 1 and shows a detail of theconstruction;

Fig. 5 is a section showing the connection indicated by arrow 5 in Fig,1;

Fig. 6 is a detail of the construction indicated by arrow 6 in Fig. 1;and

Fig. 7 is a detail.

The chute which has been designated as a whole by reference numeral 1 ismade of sheet steel and has a transverse section like that shown in Fig.3. The bottom 2 is flat and in the actual device is about sixteen incheswide. The edges 3 of the sheet have been bent at right angles and areabout three inches in height to the top of the roll 4. From Fig. 3 itwill be observed that the rolls 4 are cylindrical and that the planes ofthe sides 3 extended pass through the axes of the rolls 4 so that theseextend equi-distantly to each side of the sides. This is an importantfeature of the construction and gives a firm grip. It is evident that ifthe rolls 1 were all at one side or the other of the sides that thechilds hand would be more likely to secured by means of rivets 21.

lose its hold which might cause it to become frightened. In the deviceas actually con-' structed the chute is sixteenfeet longand made ofgalvanized steel. The lower end terminates in a short horizontal sectionA which is connected by a curved portion B with an inclined section Cwhose upper end terminates adjacent the platform D. This platform ispreferably made of cast iron and is provided on each side of its underside H with three integral lugs 5 (Fig. 4) to which the double endedconnecting sleeves 6 are: connected by means of bolts 7. Pipe sup--ports 8, 9 and 10 have their upper ends secured in the lower sockets ofthe sleeves 6 by means ofset screws 11. The lower ends of the pipesupports terminate in cast iron flanged bases 12, 13which preferablyrest upon and are secured to concretesupports (not shown), The pipesupports 8 are connected together by means of acrossbar 14 and each pipesupport 8 is connected to the corresponding pipe 10 by means of ahorizontal pipe 15. The pipe supports 9 serve as braces for steadyingthe structure. Braces 16 extend from the cast iron sockets 17 to thefittings 18 that are secured to the pipe 8. These fittings are providedwith plugs 19 which receive the coupling sleeve 6. The sockets 17 havean angular portion 20, one side of which is adapted to rest against theouter surface of the side 3 to which it is a The horizontal section A issupported by two short sections 22 of pipe whose upper ends are securedto sockets 17 and whose lower ends have flanged bases 12 that arefastened to a plank 23 or to a concrete support.

The pipes 10 form the side pieces of stairs by means of which thechildren reach the platform D. The steps have been designated by numeral24 and are preferably cast. Each end of these steps is provided with asemi-cylindrical portion 25 which fits about the pipes 10 and is securedto the latter by means of a bolt 26. Extending vertically from the uppersurface of the platform D are two U-shaped frames, each consisting oftwo vertical pipes 27 and one horizontal pipe 28 connected by Us 29.Secured to each vertical pipe 27 is a connector 30 which has an inclinedsocket portion 31. Pipes 32 have their upper ends secured in the sockets31 and have their lower ends connected with the pipes 10 by means ofconnectors having a center cylindrical portion 33 provided at their endswith cylindrical tubular sleeves 34;, the pipes 32 form balustrades orrailings which may be grasped by the children in climbing. Pipes 35extend along the sides of the chute and have their upper ends secured inthe sockets 31. These pipes are supported at points along their lengthsby means of supports 36 whose upper ends have transverse tubular sleeves37 and whose lower ends have flat tened portions 38 that are secured tosides 3 by means of rivets 39.

The children mount the platform D by means of the stair and then seatthemselves in the chute resting their weight on the bottom 2, theirhands grasp the rolls 4 and they slide down. The fact that the rolls 4extend equally on both sides of the sides 3 makes it easy for the childto hold on and to control the speed of descent. When the child reachesthe horizontal portion A, his speed is checked and he is brought slowlyto a sto in all steel chute like the one described will resist theelements better than wood and besides this there is no danger of sliversgetting loose and penetrating the flesh as often happens when the woodenchutes get old and weatherbeaten.

Having now described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. In an article of the class described, a

chute having a flat bottom and parallel sides extending verticallytherefrom, the sides having their upper edges formed into cylindricalrolls whose axes lie in the plane of the sides 2. An amusement devicecomprising, in combination, an elevated platforn'i, a sheet metal chutehaving one end attached to the platform and extending downwardly at anangle, the lower end of said chute being horizontal, said chute having aflat bottom provided with parallel sides extending perpendicularly fromthe same, each side having its upper edge formed into a cylindrical rollwhose axis lies in the plane of the side.

3. An amusement device comprising an elevated platform, means forsupporting said platform, said means consisting of a ladder having itsupper end secured to the underside of the platform, two supporting barshaving their upper ends secured to the underside oi. the platform nearthe opposite edge thereof, an outwardly inclined brace secured to eachof the other sides of the platform, an inclined chute extendingdownwardly from the platform on the side opposite from the ladder andbrace members extending from the lower ends of the supporting bars tothe underside of the chute.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

RICHARD w. THORNTON.

